Cohort Zero  ·  2026

Pre-Incubation
for Young
Changemakers

A free 3-month program for young innovators from Northwest Tunisia, turning local challenges into validated solutions.

Kasserine Kef Jendouba Béja
3
Challenge areas — Agrotech, WASH, Circular Economy
5
Structured phases over June–August 2026
Free
No cost to applicants. Open to individuals and teams.
KiHub
Kasserine, Northwest Tunisia
2026
First cohort
Background

Innovation rooted in the interior

Tunisia's interior regions are home to a large share of the country's youth — yet innovation ecosystems and entrepreneurship support remain concentrated in Tunis and the coastal belt.

KiHub was established in Kasserine to challenge this. KiImpact Studio is its first cohort-based pre-incubation cycle, designed to give young people the structure, mentorship, and tools to act on their ideas.

🌍
Geography as a barrier
Coastal concentration creates structural disadvantage for interior youth, regardless of talent or motivation.
🌱
Sector relevance
Agrotech, WASH, and Circular Economy map directly onto the lived realities of communities here.
💡
Learning by doing
Phase-based methodology builds habits of thinking, not just knowledge.
Challenge Areas

Three domains.
Real local problems.

Select one challenge area when you apply. All three are grounded in the realities of Northwest Tunisia.

🌱
Agrotech

Technology and innovation applied to agriculture and food systems, where smallholder farming is predominant and digital tools remain underutilized.

  • Soil and weather monitoring systems
  • Market access platforms for farmers
  • Crop disease detection apps
💧
WASH

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene solutions for communities facing persistent challenges in access to safe water and adequate sanitation infrastructure.

  • Community water quality monitoring tools
  • Participatory mapping of sanitation gaps
  • Low-cost sanitation prototypes
♻️
Circular Economy

Sustainable resource use and waste reduction approaches adapted to the economic and ecological realities of Northwest Tunisia.

  • Platforms connecting waste producers with recyclers
  • Upcycling initiatives
  • Local resource tracking tools
Program Structure

Five phases.
One summer.

Each phase has a defined learning focus, a set of activities, and a concrete team output that marks progression to the next stage.

00
🎯
Onboard
June 2026

Interviews, team formation, cohort selection, and signing the cohort charter. This is where it gets real.

Team Output
Selected cohort with signed charter
01
🔍
Discover
June 2026

Community field visits, problem framing workshop, data collection, and expert sessions on research methods and digital tools.

Team Output
Validated problem statement
02
💡
Design
June - July 2026

Ideation workshop, assumption testing, Business Model Canvas workshop, and mentorship sessions.

Team Output
First version of a Business Model Canvas
03
🔨
Build
July 2026

Rapid prototyping methodology workshop, expert mentorship, peer feedback, and iteration sessions.

Team Output
Proof of concept
04
🎤
Pitch
August 2026

Pitch training workshop, presentation coaching, and Demo Day with mentors and local stakeholders.

Team Output
Public pitch and project documentation
Mentorship

Practical. Phase-relevant.
Pluralistic.

Mentors contribute across all phases, not only at Demo Day, through structured workshops, targeted coaching, and remote follow-up.

🇹🇳
Tunisian Practitioners

Professionals, researchers, and civil society actors with direct knowledge of the local context and sector-specific expertise. Engaged in-person throughout the cycle.

🌍
International Experts

Academics and innovators from international institutions, bringing global expertise in innovation, technology, and social entrepreneurship. Engaged remotely throughout the cycle.

Impact

Aligned with the Global Goals

KiImpact Studio contributes directly to six Sustainable Development Goals, linking local innovation to global frameworks.

SDG 4 Quality Education SDG 6 Clean Water SDG 8 Decent Work SDG 9 Innovation SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities SDG 17 Partnerships
Eligibility

Who can apply?

No prior entrepreneurship or innovation experience required. Curiosity and commitment are sufficient.

  • Resident in Kasserine, Kef, Jendouba, or Béja
  • Motivated to work on Agrotech, WASH, or Circular Economy
  • Open to individuals and teams
  • Free of charge for all accepted participants

Priority Consideration

  • Women and girls
  • Youth from underserved communities
  • First-time applicants to innovation programs

Key Dates

31 May 2026
Application deadline
June 2026
Onboarding and Discover phases
June - July 2026
Design phase
July 2026
Build phase
August 2026
Pitch and Demo Day
Apply Now

You see a problem.
We'll help you build the fix.

Applications are open for Cohort Zero. Join young innovators from Northwest Tunisia building solutions that matter.

Deadline: 31 May 2026  ·  Free of charge  ·  Open to individuals and teams
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